"Boom-"
An earth-shattering blast erupted in Qin Siyang's mind, smashing his consciousness to pieces like a thunderbolt. Violent dizziness followed.
Some unknown force warped the entire world. The scene before his eyes cracked bit by bit like glass, then shattered into countless dark-gold fragments.
He could almost feel those fragments scattering and falling through his consciousness, carrying away the images in his memory.
He was gradually forgetting that once-clear, perfect life. His achievements, the warmth of his family, his children's smiling faces, his years of glory-all slowly blurred, as though sucked into a black hole and sealed somewhere he could never find again.
The entire world fell silent.
Qin Siyang's consciousness drifted through boundless darkness like a speck of dust briefly hanging in the air.
Just as that endless darkness was about to swallow him, a faint light suddenly kindled in the void.
As the light grew stronger, the surrounding darkness gradually dispersed like mist, and hazy images began to emerge in his vision.
They were blurry at first, but as the light filled his vision, the images gradually took shape.
When his vision cleared completely, he was astonished to find himself inside the Drill Pod, reclining in the passenger seat. Outside the pod, everything was pitch-black.
Just then, his own memories suddenly awakened in full, as though their shackles had been removed.
He finally remembered that he was an orphan who had been reborn in the Safe Zone after dying.
He had only fallen into that perfect life after being attacked by the Nightmare Lantern Tree.
Meanwhile, the beautiful memories of that fleeting dream receded like the tide, gradually vanishing without a trace.
All that remained in his mind was an impression so vague it could hardly have been vaguer.
"You're finally awake."
Qin Siyang turned sharply and found